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Thank you Carrie. My older son does do very well with capitalization, punctuation and does have down alot of the more common words. He loves to create stories and when he does that I let him write them out first, then we go back through and correct his spelling and we usually type it up on the computer. He really likes this and doesn't see it as "spelling!" lol Though it does help. So I think the dictation will help also. I am excited to get started with it, once our book gets here.
Now for my other son, he just turned 10. He is much slower to pick up on spelling. It seems some very simple words really cause him problems.. like "men, ten, then, hen" He thinks they should use i.. It gets hard with him as he is so down on himself for missing any words. I want to build his confidence this year! He is good with Capitalization, forgets punctuations alot, and words are hit and miss. Any advice on where you think he will fit?
Thank you for taking the time to help me try and figure this out!

Chandra,

I am wondering with your son who wants to spell men, hen, ten, etc. with an "i", if he can hear the difference? I was raised in the south and down here most people pronounce ten and tin the same way. I was a teenager living in the midwest before I was able to hear the difference. I was able to spell them in my early years based on context and just remembering which one to use in which context, but I couldn't tell them apart. I remember arguing with my husband that pin and pen sounded exactly the same. It took a lot of effort on his part before I finally could hear the difference and believe him! LOL! I was just wondering if your younger son might have the same problem I had.

Chandra,

I'm not sure which guide you're doing, which may impact the choices you have for spelling lists and dictation. I do think from what you've shared that your older son could do Level 3 dictation possibly (which is found in the Appendix of Preparing Hearts and Creation to Christ).

For your 10 year old, you may wish to put him through the Level 2 Spelling Lists first along with the spelling list daily plans (lists found in the Appendix of Beyond and Bigger Hearts). Or, if you do not have access to spelling List 2, then you could try Dication Level 2 instead (which is found in the Appendix of Bigger Hearts and Preparing Hearts).

Hope that isn't too confusing! It will be much clearer once you have your guide!

Blessings,
Carrie